X e eugene vincent



(No Model.) 2 Sheets heet 1. E. VINCENT.

FOLDING CRATE FOR TRAN'SPORTING AND HOUSING BIGYGLBS. 110,580,514. Patented Apr. 13, 1897.

(N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

E. VINCENT. FOLDING CRATE FOR TRANSPORTING AND HOUSING BIGYGLES.

No. 580.514. Patented Apr. 13, 1897.

Nrrnn STATES rricn.

ATENT EUGENE VINCENT, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 580,514, dated April 13, 1897.

A lication filed January 11, 1897. $e1'ia1 No. 618,698. (No model.) Patented in France June 30, 1896, No. 257,733, and in Belgium September 10, 1896, No. 123,460-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE VINCENT, of the city of Paris, France, have invented a Folding Grate for the Transport and Housing of Bicycles, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France for fifteen years, dated June 30, 1896, No. 257,733, and in Belgium for fifteen years, dated September 10, 1896, No. 123,460,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a folding crate for the transport and housing of bicycles. The particular advantages of this improved crate are that it is light, easily and quickly erected or collapsed, occupies small space, and protects the machine from damage during transport.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, I have illustrated it by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the crate, inclosing a'bicycle for transport. Fig. 2 is a front View, and Fig. 3 an end view, of the crate alone. Fig. t is a plan of the crate collapsed in the flat. Fig. 5 shows the crate folded up.

The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

The crate consists, essentially as shown, of

' a bottom a of two parts hinged at I), provided with rollers c on the ends of the joint-pin. Upon the base-board a at points d d, symmetrically disposed, are jointed skeleton frames, each composed of hoop-shaped members e f 9, connected together and to the bottom board a by webs 71. The hoop e is jointed to the bottom board a, while the hoops f and g are jointed at v; to the hoop e, the hoop f folding down outside and the hoop g inside the hoop e. The hoop g is provided with a grooved guide 70, in which the bicycle-wheel is received, as well as in a groove Z in a crossbar m on the bottom board a. At each end of the bottom board a is also mounted a tonguepiece or, slotted at 0 to receive a ring 19, pivoted on the hoop g, by means of which the tongue-piece is kept vertical and also serves for lifting the crate. The ends of the webs h are united to maintain the hoops in position by means of straps qfor by lacing-studs and eyelets, or in other suitable manner.

To insure increased rigidity, the lower'ends of the hoops or members f may be caused to engage with ratchet-teeth at either side of base-board a. at suitable points on the inside of the hoops to prevent the cycle from shaking during transport. The members fmay be slotted, so as to enable the height of the crate to be increased to suit the cycle without dismounting either the saddle or steering-handles.

The apparatus such as herein described may be entirely covered with canvas, leather, moleskin, or other suitable material to protect the cycle from damp or dust.

The operation is as follows: The crate having been laid out flat, as shown in Fig. 4,, the cycle is placed thereon with its wheels in guides Z. The ends of webs h are then pulled up to simultaneously raise the hoops and form the two hoods represented in Fig. 2. After having united the straps the sliding pieces or are drawn out of their grooves and raised to a vertical position to protect the tires and then secured by means of rings 19. The cycle when thus packed may be moved from place to place either by trundling the crate upon its rollers or carrying it by the rings and is entirely protected from injury during transit.

To remove the cycle from the crate, it is simply necessary to detach and return the end pieces n to their grooves and to unfasten the straps q, so that the hoops may fold down one within the other, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. After removing the cycle the bottom a is folded together in the direction indicated by the arrows at the lower part of Fig. 2, so as to form a package of small compass, as shown in Fig. 5, and may be stowed anywhere.

The crate may be used not only for the transport of cycles, but also be suspended vertically in rooms, warehouses, &c.

The crate may be arranged to contain several cycles placed side by side, and it may also serve for packing all kinds of light vehicles.

The crate is preferably made of bent Wood, but it will be understood that the forms, di-

Straps mayalso be provided r mensions, details, and materials employed in its construction may be varied Without affecting in any manner the principle of my in vention.

I claim I A system of folding crate for the transport of bicycles consisting of a base board a mounted on rollers c and hinge-jointed at b so as to fold together, in combination with hoop-frames e, f, g jointed at d and c' so as to form two symmetrical hoods united by a band h by means of lacing or straps qand adapted to fold down horizontally Within one another when the crate is not in use, all substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The foregoing specification of my folding crate for the transport and housing of bicycles signed by me this 24th day of December,

EUGENE VINCENT. Witnesses:

EDWARD P. MAoLEAN, ALBERT MoREAU. 

